Travels: Padua

My husband has a cousin who lives in Padua (Padova).  She is from Israel but has spent the past four or five years there, studying vetrinary medicine at the University of Padova.  Since it was only about a twenty minute train ride from Venice to Padua, we had planned on meeting up with her for an evening while we were in Italy.

Palazzo del Bo, one of the University of Padova (founded 1222) buildings

The Sunday that we were in Venice we called her to let her know that we thought we could come out later that afternoon if that would work for her.  She suggested that we call her when we were about to take a train.  Unfortunately, because it was Sunday, we couldn't find anywhere to get a sim card for M's cell phone.  We also couldn't find a functioning pay phone so we just ended up hopping on a train.  After a series of pay phones that ate our money or didn't work once we arrived in Padua, we finally got a pay phone to work and arranged to meet M's cousin at a cafe.

Well, M. didn't actually catch the name of the place where we were supposed to meet her, but knew that it was toward the historic center of town.  So we started walking from the train station.  It was hot and humid and we were lost.  Since we didn't actually know the name of the cafe, we couldn't ask anyone directions.  And I was starting to get kinda pissed off, even as I was noticing how bike-friendly the city seemed to be.

After a while, we gave up and found another payphone to call from.  Once we were finally able to meet up, we had a wonderful time.  We had a glass of Prosecco on a terrace.  Then walked around some.  We had another glass of Prosecco on another terrace.

Then, we walked around some more.  Since it was Sunday evening, most of the sites were closed, but it was nice to see the city with an almost-local.

(The Observatory)

We ended the evening with a nice dinner in the main piazza with a beautiful view of the clocktower as night fell.  M's cousin also introduced us to our favorite gelato chain of the trip: Grom.  (Grom, as well as my beloved Jeni's ice cream, were recently mentioned in a NY Times article about gourmet ice cream.)  The combination of raspberry and lemon was so amazing!

I wish we could have spent a bit more time in Padua, but we had to catch a train back to Venice.  I'll have to visit again some day.  But now, in the meantime, I can't stop thinking about gelato....  What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?  Do you have a favorite brand?